Crutch.



N. SHARP.

ORUTOH.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.18, 1013.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

WITNESSES ATTORN EY UNlTEiD Sl diilllg UFFMJE.

NEWTON SHARP, OF JONEESBORO. ARKANSAS.

CBUTGH.

Application filed February 18, 193.3.

To all echo m, it may concern Be it known that I, Nnw'roN Ermine, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jonesboro, in the county of Graighead and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and useful Crutch, of which the following a specification,

The invention relates to improvements in crutches.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of crutches, and to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive crutch of strong and durable construction, equipped with cushioning means adapted to eliminate jar and render the use of the crutch less tiresome.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cushioned crutch equipped with adjusting means adapted to control the tension of the springs and vary the length of the crutch.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

I11 the drawing :Figure 1 is a side elevation of a crutch, constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the upper portion of the crutcln Fig, 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fi 2.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing.

In the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention," 1 designates the body portion of the crutch having spaced upwardly diverging sides 2, connected at an intermediate point by a horizontal hand grip 3. The sides of the body of the crutch are equipped at their upper ends with tubular extensions or sections 1, preferably constructed of metal and having lower reduced portions 5 receiving the upper terminals of the spaced sides 2 and secured to the same by rivets 6, or other suitable fastening devices.

The tubular sections or extensions 1,

Specification of "Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 24:, Millet.

E-Berial No. 749,210.

which form housings for coiled cushioning springs 7, have threaded upper ends 8, which are screwed into openings 9 of a cross head 10. The tubular sections or extensions t, which are arranged in parallelism, also receive the lower portions of a pair of parallel longitudinally movable rods or plungers 11, having threaded upper ends 12 screwed into sockets 13 in the lower face of a crutch head 14. The rods or plungers 11 snugly lit the interior of and are guided by the tubular sections or extensions et, and their lower ends bear against the upper tcrminals of the coiled springs, which are in tor-posed between the rods or plungers and the upper ends of the spaced sides 2 of the body portion of the crutch. The springs operate to cushion the crutch and relieve the person using the crutch of jars incident to the use of an ordinary crutch.

The crutch head let has a curved upper face presenting a concave surface to and adapted to support the arm, and the said crutch head may be constructed of any suitable material. The crutch head is arranged in spaced relation with the cross head, and it is adjustably connected therewith by means of a short strap 15, having a buckle 16 and extending through central slots 17 and 18 of the crutch head and the cross head. The strap, which limits the upward movement of the crutch head, is adapted to vary both the tension of the cushioning springs and also the length of the crutch, the crutch head being drawn downwardly toward the cross head to shorten the crutch and increase the tension of the coiled springs.

The coiled springs are braced and pro tected by the tubular extensions or sections and access to the springs may be readily had by detaching the strap and removing the crutch head and the rods or plungers. Also the parts of the crutch may be easily and quickly assembled and the strap when it be comes worn may be readily replaced. The cross head cooperates with the transverse handle in bracing the body portion of the crutch, and a strong and durable construction is thereby produced.

lVhat is claimed is 1. A crutch comprising a body portion having spaced sides, tubular extensions or sections receiving the upper terminals of the said spaced sides and secured to the same, said extensions or sections being also provided with threaded upper terminals, a cross With spaced rods or plungers slidable in the head connecting the tubular extensions or sections and havin openings receiving the upper threaded encs of the same, a crutch head provided in its lower face with sockets, rods or plungers slidalole in the tubular extensions or sections and having upper threaded ends secured in the sockets of he crutch head, and springs housed within the tubular extensions or sections and yieldably supporting the rods or plungers.

A crutch comprising a body portion having spaced sides provided with tubular extensions, a cross head connecting the tubular extensions, a crutch head provided tubular extensions, cushioning means housed Within the tubular extensions and yieldably supporting the rods or plungers, and a flexihle connection adjust-ably connecting the cross head and the crutch head and controlling the tension of the springs and adapted to Vary the length of the crutch.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signa ture in the presence of two Witnesses.

NEVITON SHARP.

Witnesses SAM Fosrnn, V. H, SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G." 

